Mer'veilles Nature - Photo Festival
First wildlife and nature photography festival in Centre-Val de Loire
2026
About Mer'veilles Nature
Mer'veilles Nature — edition 2026
5th Edition — May 15 to 17, 2026
The 5th edition of Mer'veilles Nature took place from Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 17, 2026 at the Halle de Mer (Loir-et-Cher), from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM each day. An entirely free festival, this edition confirmed its position as the leading wildlife and nature photography festival in the Centre-Val de Loire region.
16 Photographers and a Guest Collective
The 2026 edition brought together sixteen naturalist photographers as well as the collective La Team Inspirations. Among the confirmed guests: Éric Barotte, Axelle and Bertrand Bayer, Christian Bulle, Christian Delastre, Patrick and Céline Désormais, Anthony Dugousset, Gilles Duperron, Patrick Gaillard, Francis Rousset, as well as regional photographers Gérard Fauvet, Fabrice Guérin, Karine Laurioux, and Phil Léger. The emblem image of the 5th edition was a photograph of a gorilla hand signed by Fabrice Guérin.
Three Artistic Expressions Beyond Photography
For this 5th edition, the festival expanded its program to include three non-photographer artists — an illustrator, a painter, and a naturalist set designer — invited to share their unique perspective on living things alongside the photographic exhibitions.
A Cycle of Free Video Conferences
A dozen free video conferences were organized in the Pierre Tournois room of the Cercle Laïque, led by the invited photographers and naturalists. Topics covered ranged from butterfly migration to free dragonflies, as well as mountain birds and subaquatic life.
School Activities and Partner Associations
Friday, May 15 was dedicated to welcoming school groups (educational program in place since 2024). The four partner naturalist associations — LPO, Société française des orchidophiles (SFO), Société d'histoire naturelle de Blois (SHN), and Maison de la Loire du Loir-et-Cher — presented their field actions and offered educational activities throughout the weekend.
Highlights Mer'veilles Nature 2026
Highlights of the 2026 Edition
- 5th edition of the festival, confirming its local roots since 2022
- 16 invited naturalist photographers + the collective La Team Inspirations
- Emblem image of the edition: gorilla hand signed by Fabrice Guérin
- 12 free video conferences in the Pierre Tournois room of the Cercle Laïque
- Expansion to include 3 non-photographer artists (illustrator, painter, naturalist set designer)
- Friday dedicated to welcoming school groups
- 4 partner associations: LPO, SFO, SHN Blois, Maison de la Loire du Loir-et-Cher
- 100% free festival (exhibitions, conferences, activities)
Programme Mer'veilles Nature 2026
Friday, May 15, 2026 — Opening & School Day
- Halle de Mer · 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM · Opening of exhibitions by 16 invited photographers and the La Team Inspirations collective · Free admission
- Video conferences · Pierre Tournois room of the Cercle Laïque · Free
- Welcome for school groups (educational program)
- Stands of partner associations: LPO, SFO, SHN Blois, Maison de la Loire du Loir-et-Cher
Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Halle de Mer · 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM · Photographic exhibitions (16 photographers + La Team Inspirations + 3 non-photographer artists)
- Video conference cycle · Pierre Tournois room of the Cercle Laïque · Topics covered throughout the weekend: butterfly migration, free dragonflies, mountain birds, subaquatic life
- Meetings and discussions with photographers present at their exhibitions
- Association activities (LPO, SFO, SHN Blois, Maison de la Loire)
Sunday, May 17, 2026 — Closing
- Halle de Mer · 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM · Last day of exhibitions
- Continuation of video conferences in the Pierre Tournois room of the Cercle Laïque
- Book signings and meetings with photographers
Invited Photographers (2026 edition)
- Éric Barotte
- Axelle & Bertrand Bayer
- Christian Bulle
- Christian Delastre
- Patrick & Céline Désormais
- Anthony Dugousset
- Gilles Duperron
- Gérard Fauvet (regional)
- Patrick Gaillard
- Fabrice Guérin (emblem image 2026)
- Karine Laurioux (regional)
- Phil Léger (regional)
- Francis Rousset
- Collectif La Team Inspirations
Prices Mer'veilles Nature 2026
Conferences: free
Association activities: free
Entirely free festival for all audiences.
Mer'veilles Nature — 2027 edition
The 2026 edition was held from 15 May to 17 May 2026. The dates for the 2027 edition have not been announced yet. This page will be updated as soon as the official programme is published.
Practical information — Mer'veilles Nature
Practical Information — Mer'veilles Nature
Location
Halle de Mer
Place de la Halle
41500 Mer
Dates
Three days in May (usually the third weekend of May).
Opening Hours
From 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM on all three days of the festival.
Prices
- Admission: free
- Conferences: free
Access
By car: Mer is located 25 km northeast of Blois and 30 km southwest of Orléans, on the D2152. Free parking in the town center.
By train: Mer Station (Paris-Tours line, TER from Blois in 15 minutes, from Orléans in 25 minutes). The Halle is a 5-minute walk from the station.
Contact
Association Mer'veilles Nature
Website: www.merveillesnature.com
Email: [email protected]
Mer'veilles Nature: When Photographic Art Celebrates the Beauty of Life
Born in 2022, Mer'veilles Nature has quickly established itself as the leading wildlife and nature photography festival in the Centre-Val de Loire region. Held annually in May in Mer, a small town in Loir-et-Cher located between Blois and Orléans, this free festival transforms the Halle de Mer into a space of wonder where photographic art and nature meet, tell stories, and speak to everyone.
Exceptional Naturalist Photographers
Each edition brings together a selection of leading naturalist photographers, whose images bear witness to the beauty and fragility of the living world. Wild landscapes, striking animal portraits, macro photography of insects, scenes of aquatic life: the exhibitions offer an extraordinary visual journey through the ecosystems of France and the world. The photographers are present throughout the festival to interact with the public, share their techniques, and tell the stories behind their shots.
A Place for Exchange Between Art and Ecology
Mer'veilles Nature is more than just a photographic exhibition. The festival is designed as a vibrant space for exchange between artists, the public, and environmental protection stakeholders. Four local naturalist associations are invited to present their actions and projects:
- The LPO (League for the Protection of Birds)
- The French Society of Orchidophiles (SFO)
- The Natural History Society of Blois (SHN)
- The Maison de la Loire du Loir-et-Cher
These partners extend the festival's message by raising public awareness about local biodiversity issues and offering educational activities throughout the event.
Conferences and Screenings
The program is enhanced by conferences, screenings, and round tables led by guest photographers and experts in fauna and flora. These highlights allow for a deeper exploration of the themes addressed in the exhibitions and open dialogue on contemporary environmental challenges.
Partnership with the Montier Photo Festival
Mer'veilles Nature benefits from the support and reach of the prestigious Montier Photo Festival, an international benchmark for wildlife photography. This partnership gives the Mer festival national visibility and guarantees an excellent program, attracting photographers and enthusiasts from all over France.
Where does it take place — Mer'veilles Nature
Mer'veilles Nature in brief
History of Mer'veilles Nature
Edition 2025 May 2025Other festivals near Mer
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